13 top executives who make a $1 salary or less

While many executives are criticized for their excessive pay, some CEOs have been able to skirt around the issue by choosing to forgo a lofty salary and opting instead for a paycheck of $1 a year, or less.

Of course, this isn't to say these executives are living off the dollar menu.

The CEOs on this list are still worth millions, if not billions, but while some merely pay lip service to the $1 salary club by taking home hefty compensation in the form of company stock awards and bonuses, others forgo adding to their wealth in this way entirely.

"I've made enough money," said Mark Zuckerberg during a Q&A on Facebook in June. "At this point, I'm just focused on making sure I do the most possible good with what I have." Zuckerberg chooses to take home a $1 salary and declines stock awards and bonuses.

Here are some CEOs and other executives that belong to the $1 (or less) salary club:

Since then, Google's compensation committee has offered them market-competitive salaries annually, which they continue to decline.

While they also forgo cash bonuses based on their individual and company performance and do not hold any stock options, Google stock units, or other contingent stock rights, Page is currently worth an estimated $34.9 billion and Brin is worth an estimated $34.3 billion.

Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey.Reuters/Mike Blake

In a filing with the SEC in June, it was revealed that Twitter's interim CEO receives no compensation for his role. This is of little financial consequence to Dorsey, whose current estimated net worth comes in around $2.3 billion.

"At your request, you have agreed to forego any compensation for your role as Interim Chief Executive Officer until the Compensation Committee agree upon a compensation package for you at the same time that it conducts its annual assessment and setting of executive compensation later in the year. Until a compensation package is finalized, you will be entitled to no cash or equity compensation for your services as Interim Chief Executive Officer," the document reads.

Larry Ellison

Meanwhile, new co-CEOs Safra Catz and Mark Hurd, who took over in September, 2014, each took home a $950,000 salary last year in addition to other compensation.

So how does Ellison continue to add to his estimated $49.2 billion net worth? Compensation Ellison received last year included $65 million in stock option awards, $740,000 in non-equity compensation, and $1.5 million for other compensation, most of which went towards security-related costs for Ellison's home.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk.AP

According to Tesla Motors' SEC filings, Musk, whose net worth is valued at an estimated $13 billion, was required by California law to be paid a minimum wage of $37,000 in fiscal year 2015.

The filing also noted, though, that Musk has never accepted and currently does not accept his salary. He also declines receiving a bonus, stock awards, option awards, or any other compensation.

John Mackey

Edward Lampert

Edward Lampert.REUTERS/Peter Morgan PM

When Lampert took over as Sears' CEO in 2013, he took a salary of $1, the company's SEC filing reports, which he continues to take. He also continues to forgo bonuses, non-equity incentive plans, and most other compensation offered to Sears executives.

Among other things, in 2014 Fairbanks received a more than $4 million bonus, more than $13 million in stock awards, $1.75 million in option awards, and almost $100,000 in other compensation, which included about $70,000 for the personal use of a driver who also provided personal security.

Steven Kean

Steven Kean.YouTube/The Motley Fool

Taking over for Richard Kinder in June as Kinder Morgan's CEO, Steven Kean continued Kinder's tradition of taking a $1 salary, the company's SEC filing notes. He also declines receiving an annual bonus, non-equity incentive compensation, and stock awards.